Iraq’s prime minister announced on Friday that the head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been killed in an operation by Iraqi national intelligence service members and U.S.-led coalition forces.
Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, known as “Abu Khadija,” was a deputy caliph for ISIS and considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world. The operation took place in Anbar province, western Iraq, according to security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated the Iraqi government and coalition forces on their success, saying “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters.” Trump’s statement was accompanied by a tweet reading “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
The announcement comes as Syria’s top diplomat visited Iraq, where the two countries pledged to work together to combat ISIS. The visit highlighted the need for cooperation between the two nations to address the threat posed by the terrorist group.
Iraq and Syria have had strained relations since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. However, their leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the two countries, citing shared history and cultural heritage.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/iraq-islamic-state-leader-killed-syria-eb56ab8a4d8c07d0233206fe1bb55a06